The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-11-24

OiHCeI, III q lOuu VOICE Sdlu.
=" want to see Gen. Beauregard at once,
and I'll have this fellow punished for insult
ing gentleman"
The officer (who was gentleman) mildly
suggested that the man was doing his duty
only, but my escorts choler was up, and, re-
fusing all explanations, demanded an imme-
diate interview with the General
The officer now began to get mad, and in
commanding tone inquired:
What is your business, sir, with the
General?n
To which the old gentleman replied:
:" will explain my business when / see
the General"
Well, sir, you will have to give me your
name aud the nature of your business, and
will advise you as to the Generals pleas
ure."
My name, sir, is Col. -, of Virginia, by
Cad; and my business is to turn over a
prisoner whom we caught prOwling in our
County, sir. There he stands, right there,
sirn
Turning to look at me, the officer replied
well, you should escort your prisoner to
the ProvOst-Marshal. Gen. Beauregard is
not entertaining prisoners"
After a few more passages 1t was settled
while the Colonel and the General had an
interview.
While he was telling his story to Gen.
BeauTegard, which / suspect referred more
to the insult" to himself than my danger
GUS character, the officer, who had returned
to me, politely said something about old
fools" l agreed with him, and took occasion
to add nay mite of experience with the "old
fppl 4IaN II IoI l.
from patriotic impulse from my own home
to do something for the country, but had
been treated with so much indignity by this
old man / was sorry i had left home.
In his state of mind my Interpretation OF
the story had most agreeable effect, which
was further strengthened by the note from
the officer who had captured me. AS soon
as he read this, turning to me, he politely
asked to be excused, and returned to the
General, who was being bored to death by
my Colonel"
In a moment more
GEN. BEAUREGARD MADE AN APPEARANCE,
the Colonel still talking earnestly. The
General was bare-headed, his coat unbut-
toned, and presented to my vision the ap-
pearance of pleasant Jewish gentleman.
He looked at me while the old gas-bag was
exhausting himself, but did not speak word
either to me or the Colonel until my young
officer spoke up and said:
Z" / think, General, l had better relieve the
gentleman of the responsibility of the care
of this young Marylander," at the same time
handing to the General the note had given
him.
Gen. Beauregard again looked at me as he
finished reading it, and, turning to the OFF,
Ger, said:
"Yes, yes; that will do" and, bidding the
Colonel good evening as he excused him.
self, walked off.
II must not be thought that the Virginia
Colonel believed or for an instant suspected
my true character; his only object was to
secure some attention for himself by pressing
me upon the General personally, and his own
egotism defeated his purpose, to my great
relief
The Colonel being thus summarily dis
posed of, the officer who introduced himself
TO me as an Aid to Gen. Beauregard began to
apologize for my ungracious reception in the
Southern army.
told him my desire was to connect my
self with some of the Baltimore refugees,
and i was informed that l should have the
opportunity soon, but at that time there was
no distinct Maryland organizations in their
army. / suggested that as / was without
money I must work to earn living, and
msekly remarked that being q railroader at
home / should like an opportunity to be
employed somewhere in that capacity, as j
would be able to do justice to myself and my
employers better there than elsewhere, until
/ should be able to unite with the army.
"Just the thing; we need experienced
men on the roads here now as much as we
require soldiers; and, turning to an or
derly, he directed him to accompany me to
a certain official who had charge of the rail-
road transportation, with the request from
Gen. Beauregard that "his services be availed
OF, as he is an experienced railroad man."
1t was after dark when / became finally
located, and, singular as it may seem, / was
that night an occupant of couch in the
railroad depot, within sound of the telegraph
instruments operating between Manassas
and Richmond, and this by express author
ity of Gen. Beauregard, and instead of being
prisoner in the guardhouse waiting execu.
tiOn.
have been careful to give all the details
of this day at, perhaps, tedious length, not
that it was interesting, but because of the
bearing on the subsequent events, which
believe are as remarkable as anything yet
recorded in the secret service of the war.
To be contiHued.l